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Arrhythmias - Treatment

Alternative Names

Dysrhythmias; Abnormal heart rhythms; Bradycardia; Tachycardia 

Treatment:

When an arrhythmia is serious, urgent treatment may be required to restore a normal rhythm. This may include:

  • Electrical "shock" therapy (defibrillation or cardioversion)
  • Implanting a temporary pacemaker to interrupt the arrhythmia
  • Medications given through a vein (intravenous)

Supraventricular arrhythmias may be treated with:

  • Medications that slow the pulse (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers)
  • Medications that cause the heart rhythm to return to normal (anti-arrhythmic drugs)

Many supraventricular arrhythmias can be treated and cured with radiofrequency ablation. This avoids the need for lifelong drug therapy.

Increasingly, most ventricular tachycardias are treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). As soon as arrhythmia begins, the ICD sends a shock to stop it, or a burst of pacing activity to override it.

Bradycardias that cause symptoms can be treated by implanting a permanent pacemaker.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome depends on several factors:

Some types of arrhythmias may be life-threatening if not promptly and properly treated.

With bradycardias treated with a permanent pacemaker, the outlook is usually good.

Complications:

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

  • You develop any of the symptoms of a possible arrhythmia
  • You have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia and your symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment
  • Reviewed last on: 5/15/2008
  • Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.